Journalists in Danger: Facts on Iraq

Here is a look at the toll since hostilities began in March 2003, as compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

JOURNALISTS KILLED ON DUTY: 53

CPJ considers a journalist to be killed on duty if the person died as a result of a hostile action–such as reprisal for his or her work, or crossfire while carrying out a dangerous assignment. CPJ does not include journalists killed in accidents, such as car or plane crashes, unless the crash was caused by aggressive human action (for example, if a plane were shot down or a car crashed trying to avoid gunfire). Nor does CPJ include journalists who died of health ailments.

By Year:

2005: 15
2004: 24
2003: 14

By Nationality:

Iraqi: 34
European: 9
Other Arab countries: 3
United States: 2
All other countries: 5

By Gender:

Men: 49
Women: 4

By Circumstance:

Insurgent action: 30 (Includes crossfire, suicide bombings, and targeted killings.)
U.S. fire: 13
Iraqi armed forces, during U.S. invasion: 3
Crossfire or other acts of war in which source unconfirmed: 7

By Job:

Photojournalists: 20 (Includes still photographers and camera operators.)
Reporters and editors: 24
Producers: 6
Technicians: 3

MEDIA WORKERS KILLED ON DUTY: 21

Media workers are those who work with journalists in supporting roles as drivers, interpreters, fixers and guards. CPJ uses the same standards in determining whether they were killed on duty.

By Year:

2005: 1
2004: 17
2003: 3

By Nationality:

Iraqi citizens: 20
Other: 1 (Lebanese)

JOURNALISTS ABDUCTED IN 2004-05: 30

When security conditions deteriorated in 2004, journalists were targeted in a rash of kidnappings. CPJ began keeping detailed statistics of the abductions in 2004.

Result:

Released: 28
Killed: 2

By Nationality:

European: 15
United States: 6
Iraq or other Arab countries: 1
All other countries: 7
Unknown: 1

By Gender:

Men: 23
Women: 7

By Year:

2005: 8
2004: 22

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Founded in 1981, CPJ has kept detailed data on journalists killed on duty as part of its mission of defending press freedom worldwide. Here is a tally of several major conflicts, as compiled by CPJ staff.

Journalists Killed in Conflicts:

Algeria (1993-96): 58
Colombia (1986-present): 51
Balkans (1991-95): 36
Philippines (1983-87): 36
Turkey (1984-99): 22
Tajikistan (1992-96): 16
Sierra Leone (1997-2000): 15
Afghanistan (2001-04): 9
Somalia (1993-95): 9
Kosovo (1999-2001): 7
First Iraq war (1991): 4 (All were killed after the official end of the war but died in the conflict in the immediate aftermath.)

Deadliest year in these wars: 1995 in Algeria, when 24 journalists were killed.

EARLIER CONFLICTS

CPJ does not have statistics on wars prior to 1981, but other groups have compiled lists of journalists killed. Please note that groups use different criteria in classifying deaths. For example, a group might categorize a death in a plane crash as being killed on duty. Here is a selection of some of the major conflicts.

Central American conflicts: Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free press, lists 89 journalists killed for the years 1979-89.
Argentina: Freedom Forum lists 98 for the years 1976-1983.
Vietnam: Freedom Forum lists 66 journalists killed covering the conflict in Vietnam from 1955-1975. The Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan, which surveyed the years 1962-75, lists 71 journalists killed.
Korean War: Freedom Forum lists 17 journalists killed.
World War II: Freedom Forum lists 68.
World War I: Freedom Forum lists 2.

DANGEROUS WORK

While the deaths of journalists covering wars draw considerable public attention, journalists are at risk in every corner of the world. Most journalists deaths are targeted killings–murders designed to silence a critic or to retaliate for coverage. Here is a year-by-year tally of deaths worldwide over the past decade, as compiled by CPJ.

Journalists Killed Over the Past Decade